Ritschi

Born Andreas Ritschard on March 7, 1979, Swiss German pop singer Ritschi first achieved widespread success as frontman of the band Plüsch before issuing his own debut album in 2009. He formed his initial group, V.I.P., in 1997 and cut the demo “Fat Rabbit” a year later. That project later became Plüsch, whose lineup included Roger Meier (Röschel, guitar), Simon Ryf (Simi, bass), Andreas Hunziker (Hunzi, keyboards), Alexander Balajew (Bali, drums), and Ritschard (Ritschi, vocals). After signing with Columbia Records, the band released its self-titled album Plüsch in 2002. Within six months the record reached the Top Ten and earned Plüsch a Prix Walo for Newcomer of the Year. Their first Swiss singles-chart entry, “Häbs Guet,” appeared on a September 2002 reissue of the album. Subsequent releases Sidefiin (2004) and Früsch Gwäsche (2006) both topped the Swiss charts, the former generating the hits “Irgendeinisch,” “I Setze Alls,” and “Jede Tag (U Jedi Nacht),” the latter spawning “Wunder Passiere,” “Isch Es Wäge Mir,” and “Heimweh.” Ritschi’s solo bow, Probier Mi Doch Mal Us, arrived in 2009 and peaked at number two on the Swiss albums chart, while its lead single “Schisstäg” entered the Top 20. Around the same period he joined Swiss German vocalists Baschi, Bligg, and Seven on the chart-topping single “Stahn Uf.”